Mitchell, S.D. – The Great Plain Athletic Conference announced the 2022 Wrestling All-Conference performers this morning. Among the honoree were two Dakota Wesleyan University wrestlers in Kaleb Bigelow and Darien Malone.
Bigelow, a freshman from Pinedale, Wyo., received All-Conference Second Team honors after a 21-9 performance during the 2021-22 season. At the GPAC wrestling championships on the home mat, Bigelow was perfect heading into the 165-championship match. Bigelow wrestled his way to a silver medal in the 165 Championship match, just missing one automatic qualifier spot. Bigelow started the year off with a fourth-place finish at the Jimmie Open in Jamestown, N.D., then following that up to close out the 2021 calendar year with a sixth-place finish from the Doane Conner/Oppenheim Open.
Malone, a sophomore from Rapid City, S.D., was tabbed with All-Conference Honorable Mention after a 23-11 record during the second year with the Tigers. Last weekend on his home mat, Malone wrestled his way to a bronze in the GPAC wrestling championships while earning him a spot in the 2022 NAIA Wrestling National Championships March 4-5. At the start of the season, he placed sixth at the Younes Hospitality Open. Malone started his 2021-22 campaign; with a second-place finish; at the Jimmie Open back in November.